Juggling world records

This is a list of numbers juggling world records for solo juggling of clubs, balls, rings and bouncing balls as well as passing records for each of these props.

The records for each section are split into three groups:

The "most official" record with each number. These records can be proved only by video evidence, either available to the general public or to the members of the Juggling Information Service Committee on Numbers Juggling (JISCON).[1]

The "unofficial" record with each number, where the record is equal to or beats the official record. These are usually personal claims by the named juggler, often with witnesses. It is notoriously difficult to accurately count catches for any attempt beyond a flash without resorting to slowed down video footage.

Records with lower numbers of props. These records can last anywhere from 20 minutes to 12 hours so video evidence, even if it exists, is not easily available for anyone to check. These records are included when validated by organizations such as Guinness World Records.

Clubs, which include sticks and batons, must be long, roughly cylindrical objects.[2]

Rings, which include plates and hoops, must be flat, roughly circular objects.[2]

Bouncing balls must be bounced off a solid, flat, horizontal surface with just one bounce per ball between each throw and catch.

Records begin where each object being juggled has been thrown and successfully caught at least once (e.g. 11 catches of 12 balls is not listed). This is known as a 'flash'. Where each object is thrown and caught more than once the term used is a 'qualify'.

Contents

Props must be thrown individually from each hand, and counting of catches commences once all props bar one have been thrown. Multiplexing (throwing more than one prop at a time from the same hand) is not allowed. Catches are counted only for throws made while no props have been dropped. According to JISCON definition, a drop is "a failure to catch an object that, as a result, hits the ground or any foreign object. A drop is considered to have happened at the moment the object should have been caught or touched, not when it hits the ground."[2]

When passing, only the props thrown between two separate jugglers are counted. In some patterns (ultimates or one-count) all the throws are caught by the opposite juggler but in other patterns each juggler makes some throws to themselves. The reason for excluding self throws is that two jugglers could make a single pass to their partner and then go on to juggle solo patterns for as long as they wanted therefore undermining the record for 'passing'.

JISCON only tracks two-person club passing records. Records for ball and ring passing are not officially tracked by anyone but video evidence is available for various numbers.